New music video: "Opawesome"

[basshole]

Hi. You may or may not remember me asking questions about this from a few months ago, but I finally finished my animated music video for my song about opossums, called "Opawesome."

Been wanting to do a video in this style for a long time, but knew it would be a huge pain, couldn't muster up the ambition until now.

This is mostly photos cut into layers in Photoshop, then animated in Moho. A few elements created in Moho itself and also Apple Motion. I didn't keep a record, but I estimate this took between 300 and 600 hours between July and now, much of that in Photoshop, not only cutting into layres, but color correcting/ color matching (most "night" shots are day-for-night), erasing/modifying things, etc.). I got faster as I went on but it was still a lot.

I started using bones/static cam for the parallax moves rather than setting things along the Z axis and moving the camera, as the Z axis method could be very finicky with even a slight composition change when everything is "set". Still used Z axis movement for some shots that involved moving forward/back with the camera.

I also wish I'd tested it in 12fps (it's in 24), but didn't even think of this 'til way later and I wasn't about to redo/re-time everything I'd done already. I think it would have given it a more choppy/"animation-y" look, rather than the super smooth "computery" look. Didn't mean to get as elaborate with lighting etc. as I did in some shots (I know it's not elaborate, but it is moreso than I had in my mind before I started), but the way the models/puppets weren't at all integrated into the environments bothered me the first time I encountered that issue, and so came the rim lights etc.

Anyway, it's not perfect/amazing, but I'm pretty happy with it.

[dosrobots]

Opawesome! Also a great example how Moho can also be used!

[J. Baker]

Well that was interesting. Kind of reminded me of that GreenJelly band of the 90's with that three little pigs song.

[Greenlaw]

This is a most EXCELLENT music video! Thanks for making my day.

BTW, we have 'possum visitors to our backyard every night, and they're fun to watch. And, yes, they did make friends with our cats.

We also have skunks, rabbits, and raccoons as backyard guests. You might not think so, considering I live in Los Angeles. I think they hang out because the yard is gated and protects them from the coyotes also roaming the streets.* Plus, free food. (Our vegetable garden. Sigh!)

(*I don't want to tell our backyard friends, but I once watched a coyote climb and jump over a 10-foot fence around Lake Hollywood.)

Funny story: A friend of mine, also living in LA, told me he once got a call from an Amazon delivery person. When he stepped out to meet her, she pointed to a 'possum sitting on a wall, and she was uncomfortable about approaching the porch. Yes, 'possums can be cute, but also scary when they want to be.

[basshole]

Glad you folks liked it. When I was nearly finished with the video, I saw a possum a few times eating the cat food the landlord leaves out. Kismet, or something.